A memorial for Nancy Wake

Stuff reports:

The life of the woman who became the White Mouse will be remembered in Wellington today at a special service on what would have been her 100th birthday.

Wellington-born World War II heroine Nancy Wake will be honoured at a remembrance service at Old St Paul’s Church in Thorndon.

Organiser Trevor Morley said it was a chance to honour the French Resistance fighter – who died last year – for her bravery and heroism.

Ms Wake, who was born in Roseneath, left New Zealand with her family for Australia when she was 2.

As an adult, she was living in France when the war began. She became a prominent figure in the French Resistance and was nicknamed the White Mouse by the Gestapo for her ability to evade capture.

Her work earned her France’s highest military honour, the Legion d’honneur, as well as three Croix de Guerre medals and a French Resistance medal.

She also received Britain’s George Medal and the US Medal of Freedom, and was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2004.

In 2006, she was the first woman to receive the New Zealand Returned and Services Association’s highest honour, the RSA Badge in Gold. She died last year, weeks before she would have turned 99.

A woman who gave up a life of luxury and privilege to battle the Nazis at huge risk to her life. We owe her a lot.